Early Life and Debut
Born February 24, 1957, in Portland, Oregon, C.W. Bergstrom grew up right in the heart of the old Pacific Northwest wrestling territory. At a billed 6’4” and 265 pounds, he had the size, athleticism, and presence to stand out in the ring. After training locally, Bergstrom made his professional debut on December 3, 1988—and it was no easy assignment. His first match was against none other than Art Barr, one of the most gifted and infamous wrestlers to ever emerge from the Northwest. Barr got the victory, but Bergstrom had arrived on the scene.
Within a month, Bergstrom was already working shows tied to World Championship Wrestling, wrestling at the Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland, California in early 1989. Though he lost to Mike Golden, the opportunity gave him exposure and experience outside Oregon almost immediately.
Pacific Northwest Wrestling: The Last Standard-Bearer
The bulk of Bergstrom’s early career unfolded in Don Owen’s Pacific Northwest Wrestling (PNW), one of the longest-running and most respected regional promotions in the country. For decades, PNW had been a proving ground for stars like Roddy Piper, Rick Martel, Rip Oliver, and Billy Jack Haynes. By the time Bergstrom entered, the promotion was in its final decade, fighting to survive against the WWF’s national expansion and the shifting economics of the wrestling business.
Bergstrom spent much of his first years feuding with “The Grappler” Len Denton and the stable of wrestlers Denton often aligned with. He frequently teamed with or against names like The Equalizer (Al Green), Bart Sawyer, Craig Valeri, and Larry Oliver. Matches were often rugged tag team battles typical of the Portland style—straightforward brawls that emphasized toughness and local pride.
A serious knee injury in 1991 temporarily slowed Bergstrom’s ascent. Attempting a leapfrog against “Pretty Boy” Doug Masters, he landed badly, requiring medical assistance mid-match. But he fought back, and his persistence was rewarded.
In April 1992, Bergstrom defeated Ron Harris to capture the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship, the top singles title in the territory. He would be its final recognized champion; when Don Owen’s PNW closed its doors in July 1992 after nearly 70 years, Bergstrom was the last man to carry the belt. For fans in Oregon and Washington, that cemented his place in local wrestling history.
Principal Bergstrom: A Memphis Makeover
After PNW shut down, Bergstrom looked for opportunities elsewhere and soon landed in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA), based out of Memphis. It was there that he adopted his most memorable persona: Principal Bergstrom.
Dressed in button-up shirts, suspenders, and wielding the air of a disciplinarian, Bergstrom played the role of an authoritarian school principal who punished rulebreakers—and often the fans—inside the ring. Memphis wrestling thrived on colorful characters and over-the-top storylines, and Principal Bergstrom fit right in.
He debuted in May 1993, immediately thrown into the mix with top Memphis names. He lost to Jeff Gaylord in a strap-on-a-pole match and was soon mixing it up with legends like Jerry “The King” Lawler.
On July 5, 1993, Bergstrom teamed with Melvin Penrod, Jr. to defeat New Jack and Homeboy for the USWA Tag Team Championship. For several weeks, they defended the titles successfully against challengers like Well Dunn (Rex King & Steve Doll) and even teamed alongside The Vampire Warrior (later known as Gangrel) in six-man matches against the Moondogs.
Although the run was brief—losing the belts to the Moondogs in August and splitting with Penrod shortly after—it left an impression. Bergstrom’s Principal character was reportedly considered by the WWF, with ideas floated about feuding him with the 1-2-3 Kid. The role never materialized, and instead the WWF would later give Shane Douglas a similar “Dean” persona during his 1995 stint.
Still, in Memphis, Principal Bergstrom was remembered as a fun, midcard heel who added color to the wild USWA mix.
Independent Circuit and Semi-Retirement
After leaving the USWA in late 1993, Bergstrom wrestled sporadically, often returning to the Pacific Northwest for special events and reunion shows.
He appeared on a 1994 supercard promoted by Art Barr, teaming with Billy Jack Haynes and a young Rey Misterio Jr. against Psicosis, Ryuma Go, and Col. DeBeers. The event was notable for blending old PNW stars with rising Mexican luchadores, symbolizing a bridge between eras.
Through the late 1990s, Bergstrom worked local Oregon independents. In 1999, he headlined a card in Medford, Oregon, the city’s first wrestling show in nearly a decade. He continued to team with and against familiar faces from his PNW days, including Len Denton and Billy Two Eagles.
Return to the Ring: Mid-2000s Resurgence
In the 2000s, Bergstrom made a surprising comeback on the regional circuit. On October 23, 2005, he won the CPW Heavyweight Championship by defeating Governor Wilson Kaine. He also worked shows for Sandy Barr’s IGA Wrestling and later became a fixture in NWA Oregon.
Between 2006 and 2007, he held the NWA Oregon Heavyweight Championship three times, proving that even into his late 40s and early 50s, he could still compete at a high level.
Bergstrom wrestled across several Oregon promotions, including BAW Championship Wrestling and New Revolution Wrestling (NRW). He feuded with younger talents like Tod Ruhl and the Pacific Coast Blondes, often mixing in six-man tag matches and stipulation bouts like Canadian Lumberjack matches. Even as the independent scene shifted toward a new generation, Bergstrom maintained his presence as a veteran who could still draw in the Pacific Northwest.
Championships and Honors
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NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – last recognized champion
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USWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Melvin Penrod, Jr.
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NWA Oregon Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
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CPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
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Portland Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
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Portland Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Lou Andrews (2) and Big Daddy Thunder (1)
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Ranked #97 in Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s PWI 500 (1993), reflecting his national visibility during the USWA run
Legacy
C.W. Bergstrom may not be a household name to the casual fan, but for followers of Pacific Northwest wrestling, he represents an important bridge between eras. He was:
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A homegrown star in Portland during the territory’s final years.
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The last man to hold Don Owen’s Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title, a belt carried by countless legends.
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A colorful character in Memphis as Principal Bergstrom, remembered fondly by fans of USWA’s wild early-90s run.
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A veteran who gave back to the scene, still wrestling in Oregon long after many of his peers had retired.
Today, Bergstrom is semi-retired, but his career reflects the journey of many wrestlers of his generation: from the heyday of regional territories, to the national boom, and back to the independents, always keeping the flame of professional wrestling alive in local arenas.